WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2960/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS Conservation of sixth century Byzantine villages and churches in northern Syria
Date: 1998-10-08
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: Syria, architectural heritage, church, cooperation policy, economic development, heritage protection, housing, residential area, tourism

11.10.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 289/17

The call for tender concerning the Eurojus consultant in Vienna was included in a call for tender involving six
Eurojus consultants, which was carried out centrally by the Commission and published in the Official
journal (1). Four applications were received for the services to be supplied by the Eurojus consultant in Vienna.

(1) OJ S 120, 25.6.1997.

(1999/C 289/022)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2960/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(8 October 1998)

Subject: Conservation of sixth century Byzantine villages and churches in northern Syria

Along an area of 140 kilometres in northern Syria, villagers are responding to a severe housing shortage by
building their own accommodation among the ruins of Byzantine churches and villages dating from 6 AD.,
despite the fact that the Syrian Government prohibits construction in ancient villages. The country’s
archaeologists are warning that these villages with their 2000 churches, which form part of the architectural
heritage of particular historical value, will probably be destroyed.

How will the Commission intercede with the Syrian authorities and what assistance can it offer them to
preserve areas of particular architectural and historical value?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission

(28 October 1998)

The Commission is aware of the immense value of Syria’s historical and cultural heritage and is supporting a
number of measures to conserve it. However, given the scale of the Syrian heritage and the limited funds
available, it is not possible to cover all Syrian sites of historical and cultural interest.

The following projects to protect the Syrian heritage have recently been financed, or are at the preparation
stage: modernisation of municipal administration (including historical centres); development of cultural
tourism (involving eight historical sites); archaeological digs at Jerf el Ahmar; support for a Euro-Syrian
archaeological mission to the Tell Beydar site; conservation of the murals of the Doura Europos and Qasr El
Heir synagogues. There are also sixteen projects at the preparation stage to train Syrian restorers and
researchers in the field in the conservation of their cultural heritage.

Many proposals were made, and those selected have been chosen primarily on the following bases: they will
have a helpful impact on the Syrian economy (development of cultural tourism); they will improve Syrian
institutional and administrative capacity (modernisation of municipal administration); their results will be
sustainable and broadly disseminated through training and the teaching of appropriate technologies (training
programme for the conservation of the cultural heritage).

The Commission can discuss the problem raised by the Honourable Member during one of its frequent
contacts with the Syrian authorities.

(1999/C 289/023)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2981/98

by John McCartin (PPE) to the Commission

(8 October 1998)

Subject: Price of mountain lambs

Is the Commission aware of the total collapse in the price of mountain lambs in Ireland and the UK and will the
Commission consider taking into account the different regional market prices of sheepmeat when calculating
the premium for this year?